QCOSTARICA — The beginning of the public school year can have an impact on the family’s budget, representing a significant investment for parents, who this year must spend around ¢75,000 for each child.
This is because purchases are not limited to the basic supplies listed by the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), but uniforms must also be taken into account, which include shirts, pants, socks, shoes and coats.
A visit to various stores around San José, both large department stores and specialized shops, showed that there are savings to be found, although prices are similar in general terms, by shopping around and comparing.
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How to save?
Each household must carefully measure what it will buy new and what it will reuse for this school year, as explained by Cynthia Zapata, director of Consumer Support for the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC).
“Always review the list of supplies you are going to use to see which of the above can be recycled or reused. Also prefer to rent or buy second-hand textbooks, this way you can save a good amount of money,” she advised.
She also suggests checking the quality of the supplies and clothing to buy, so that they last longer: “Remember that uniforms made of cotton are usually a little more expensive, but this ensures their durability even more than materials that are 100% synthetic. Ask about exchange policies.”
Zapata points out that exchanges can be useful in case you make a mistake in the size, so it is good to consult elements such as deadlines for making changes and the conditions under which they apply.
According to José Mario Rodríguez, Marketing Manager of discount store El Rey, “the first week of January people were still finishing their vacations, but since last Monday we have had very positive movements. The stores have been full of people since early morning, we see that everyone comes as a family. It is a very nice experience,” he said.
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Retailers are expecting a greater influx of shoppers starting next week when the ‘bono escolar’ is paid out. The Ministry of Finance announced that it will, by way of direct deposit, pay out the allocated ¢2.58 billion colones bono escolar on Friday, January 24, 2025.
In general, some parents have commented on social networks to have found some affordable prices and others that are very high.
The 2025 public school year in Costa Rica begins on Wednesday, February 5, and ends on Wednesday, December 10, followed by graduation ceremonies on December 11 and 12.
The 2025 public school year includes two important vacation periods: Semana Santa (Easter Week) from April 14 to 18 and mid-year vacation from July 7 to 18.
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It is important to note that start dates may vary in private and semi-private schools, depending on their internal organization.
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